Winning the 2018 Martinique Surf Pro was an emotional ride for Leonardo Fioravanti.

Not only because it was a loud and clear statement after having a rough rookie year on the CT. Not only because it was his first QS win since 2014. Not only because he beat an in-form Nat Young in a nail-biting final.

But also because Leo was surfing for more than himself.
Dripping wet, standing on stage in front of a big crowd, he took some time to express his emotions.

"I'm stoked to win this one for me but also for the Europeans and everybody in Italy supporting me,” Leo said. “I want to dedicate this win to two people I've lost recently, my grandmother, and Pierre Agnes from Quiksilver, who we all miss dearly."

It’d been a long week battling it out against the Qualifying Series’ finest surfers. If nothing else, the win reaffirms the fact that Leo surfs with his heart. After breaking his back in 2015, he rallied in 2016 to defy the odds and qualify for the CT.

With a meaningful win like this, 2018 is already setting up to be a big year for the 20-year-old Italian.